Appeal Regarding NOHS Judging Changes

Dear Ron:

I have followed over the past several months the board of the American Kennel Club’s (AKC) process of evaluation of the National Owner Handler’s Series and their actions to codify the “Best Practices” into Rules.

Before this action occurs in final, and since the comments that I have read on the Judges-L discussion list and other forums do not seem to show any depth of concept, I wish to share with you some of my thoughts.

As an exhibitor, I have not been impressed with the NOHS.  I have been in the ring with persons that I felt violated the spirit of the competition by the historical CV known to me.  I have watched ONE PERSON judge all the groups and BIS and process the entries like Lucy and Ethyl on the bottling assembly line, in the ancient “I Love Lucy” show.

In contrast I have taken assignments judging the Sporting group, in which I handled several breeds and campaigned a special, while not currently licensed to judge any breeds.  I have taken assignments judging the Hound group, in which I personally have exhibited two dogs owner handled, and am not currently licensed to judge any of the breeds.  I have yet to been offered an assignment in the Working group which is the breed that I am currently licensed in, and which I have also campaigned a special in another breed that I didn’t qualify to apply for in my first application, but which I am a member of the parent club and have attended the National.  I am a member of the CT Judge’s Study Group, have attended various Nationals and Education programs and am a former trainer for my parent club.

This past weekend while sitting ringside at a show I was judging at, I had the opportunity to be mentored by several notable judges who were presiding over the groups.  The comment was put forward as to how poor the exhibits were in one group., In contrast I found there were wonderful judging challenges in the NOHS group I judged and that the NOHS BIS that I presided over contained some wonderful dogs, that I would have enjoyed awarding BIS 1-4 to were the ribbons provided.  The BIS and RBIS just didn’t go far enough to acknowledge some of these dogs.

In particular I would offer that the position of the Board, under no doubt the guidance of the staff of the AKC to restrict the pool of talented judges for the NOHS particularly at some of our smaller venues where resources may already be depleted, only makes for a less meaningful experience for our competitors and exhibitors.  We should not forget that every dog that makes it to a NOHS group has been judged by a judge whom the AKC has licensed to judge that breed.  We already have a primary gate keeper, dogs in the NOHS groups and BIS are not being judged against each other but rather against their breed standard.  Breed Type, Proper movement and Owning the ground that they walk on require a knowledge of good dog sense, not the possession of perhaps a permit license in one limited entry breed.  I would be willing to wager with Steve Gladstone the sum of $5 that Wendell Sammet, Bill McFadden or a good number of Dog fanciers could judge any NOHS group or BIS and pick the best dog, without being licensed in any breed.

While it may be too little, too late, I would respectfully request that the AKC Board reconsider its plan of action as stated in it’s minutes with respect to judging the National Owner Handler Series, for the betterment of our sport, and place this competition on the top shelf, while not burdening member clubs with having to a)pay judges for their services, b) denying those who look to it as an opportunity to demonstrate their skills to our fancy.

With my gratitude and thanks for your attention to my thoughts, I remain…

Respectfully,

Andrew I. Kalmanash

AKC Judge #93225

Short URL: https://caninechronicle.com/?p=116172

Posted by chesliepickett on Nov 17 2016. Filed under Current Articles, Featured. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. Both comments and pings are currently closed.